Careful Words

daylight (n.)

  By this time, like one who had set out on his way by night, and travelled through a region of smooth or idle dreams, our history now arrives on the confines, where daylight and truth meet us with a clear dawn, representing to our view, though at a far distance, true colours and shapes.

John Milton (1608-1674): The History of England. Book i.

  I have a good eye, uncle; I can see a church by daylight.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Much Ado about Nothing. Act ii. Sc. 1.

  By this time, like one who had set out on his way by night, and travelled through a region of smooth or idle dreams, our history now arrives on the confines, where daylight and truth meet us with a clear dawn, representing to our view, though at a far distance, true colours and shapes.

John Milton (1608-1674): The History of England. Book i.

Have you found your life distasteful?

My life did, and does, smack sweet.

Was your youth of pleasure wasteful?

Mine I saved and hold complete.

Do your joys with age diminish?

When mine fail me, I 'll complain.

Must in death your daylight finish?

My sun sets to rise again.

Robert Browning (1812-1890): At the "Mermaid." Stanza 10.

This night methinks is but the daylight sick.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Merchant of Venice. Act v. Sc. 1.

We burn daylight.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Merry Wives of Windsor. Act ii. Sc. 1.